Network management system

• US 7,013,333 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1999
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Skells, Michael James Dominic
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US09/830,983
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 709/239, 709/240, 709/226, 709/245, 709/223, 709/224, 713/201, 370/389
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/2503 Translation of Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1006 with static server selection, e.g. the same server being selected for a specific client
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1008 based on parameters of servers, e.g. available memory or workload monitoring of computer activity G06F11/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1031 Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A network management system has a network monitor arranged to monitor the load on elements of a computer network and to reconfigure the network when necessary to optimize its performance. The network configuration is carried out by servers in the network in response to an appropriate instruction from the network monitor. The servers operate to divert traffic from overloaded elements in the network by modifying both source and destination addresses of the transmitted data packets. In this manner the processing or database loads can be spread optimally among a plurality of servers in the network.

Claims

1. A method of transparently re-routing data elements transmitted during a network connection along a transmission path between an original source address and an original destination address, said data elements comprising an indication of source address and an indication of destination address, said network connection having protocols above the transport layer protocol capable of maintaining data transmission during disconnection and reconnection when said data elements are re-routed, said method comprising:

a) at a first point in the transmission path differing from said original destination address;

i) receiving a first intercepted data element;

ii) modifying the original source address to an alternative source address;

iii) modifying the original destination address to an alternative destination address; and

iv) re-transmitting the first data element on the transmission path; and

b) at a second point in the transmission path corresponding to the alternative source address;

i) receiving a second data element having the alternative source address as its destination address;

ii) modifying the destination address to the original source address and modifying the source address to the original destination address; and

iii) re-transmitting the second data element along the transmission path.

2. A method as in claim 1 in which the second data element is transmitted along the path from the alternative destination address in response to the receipt at the alternative destination of the first data element.

3. A method as in claim 1 in which the first point and the second point are at the same point in the transmission path.

4. A method as in claim 1 which further comprises storing the original source address, original destination address, alternative source address and the alternative destination address said stored addresses indicating an existing routing path for data elements having source and destination addresses matching the stored original source and destination addresses.

5. A method as in claim 4 which further comprises using said stored addresses to identify an existing routing path and modifying the alternative destination address of said identified routing path to a further alternative destination address.

6. An apparatus for transparently re-routing data elements transmitted during a network connection along a transmission path between an original source address and an original destination address, said data elements comprising an indication of source address and an indication of destination address, said network connection having protocols above the transport layer protocol capable of maintaining data transmission during disconnection and reconnection when said data elements are re-routed, said apparatus comprising:

a) first means at a first point in the transmission path differing from said original destination address, said first means being configured to;

i) receive a first intercepted data element;

ii) modify the original source address to an alternative source address;

iii) modify the original destination address to an alternative destination address; and

iv) re-transmit the first data element on the transmission path; and

b) second means at a second point in the transmission path having the alternative source address and being configured;

i) receive a second data element having the alternative source address as its destination address;

ii) modify the destination address to the original source address and modify the source address to the original destination address; and

iii) re-transmit the second data element along the transmission path.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 in which the second data element is transmitted along the path from the alternative destination address in response to the receipt at the alternative destination of the first data element.

8. An apparatus as in claim 6 in which the first point and the second point are at the same point in the transmission path.

9. An apparatus as in claim 6 further comprising means configured to store the original source address, original destination address, alternative source address and the alternative destination address said stored addresses indicating an existing routing path for data elements having source and destination addresses matching the stored original source and destination addresses.

10. An apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising means configured to use said stored addresses to identify an existing routing path and to modify the alternative destination address of said identified routing path to a further alternative destination address.

11. A computer program or suite of computer programs comprising instructions for causing one or more computers to carry out a method of transparently re-routing data elements transmitted during a network connection along a transmission path between an original source address and an original destination address, said data elements comprising an indication of source address and an indication of destination address, said network connection having protocols above the transport layer protocol which capable of maintaining data transmission during disconnection and reconnection when said data elements are re-routed, said method comprising:

a) at a first point in the transmission path differing from said original destination address;

i) receiving a first intercepted data element;

ii) modifying the original source address to an alternative source address;

iii) modifying the original destination address to an alternative destination address; and

iv) re-transmitting the first data element on the transmission path; and

b) at a second point in the transmission path corresponding to the alternative source address;

i) receiving a second data element having the alternative source address as its destination address;

ii) modifying the destination address to the original source address and modifying the source address to the original destination address; and

iii) re-transmitting the second data element along the transmission path.

12. A computer program or suite of computer programs comprising instructions for causing one or more computers to provide apparatus for re-routing data elements transmitted during a network connection along a transmission path between an original source address and an original destination address, said data elements comprising an indication of source address and an indication of destination address, said network connection having protocols above the transport layer protocol which capable of maintaining data transmission during disconnection and reconnection when said data elements are re-routed, said one or more computers comprising:

a) first means at a first point in the transmission path differing from said original destination address, said first means being configured to;

i) receive a first intercepted data element;

ii) modify the original source address to an alternative source address;

iii) modify the original destination address to an alternative destination address; and

iv) re-transmit the first data element on the transmission path; and

b) second means at a second point in the transmission path having the alternative source address and being configured to;

i) receive a second data element having the alternative source address as its destination address;

ii) modify the destination address to the original source address and modify the source address to the original destination address; and

iii) re-transmit the second data element along the transmission path.